Financial Services Guide
Effective: July 2022
StrideCorp Equity Partners Pty Ltd (ABN 49 607 216 928 AFSL No. 482 668)
Issue Date: July 2022
Purpose and content of this FSG
This Financial Services Guide (FSG) is designed to assist you in deciding whether to use any of the financial services offered by StrideCorp Equity Partners Pty Ltd (Stride Equity). It provides you with an understanding of what to expect from your interactions with Stride Equity.
This guide contains information about:
- Services provided by Stride Equity - the kinds of services Stride Equity is authorised to provide under its Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence;
- Remuneration received by Stride Equity, its staff and related persons in connection with the financial services Stride Equity provides; and
- Complaints Process - how Stride Equity deals with any complaints you may have about its services.
How to contact us
You can contact and find out more information about Stride Equity in the following ways:
Email: info@strideequity.com.au
Phone: 0414880987
Financial services we are licensed to provide and the financial products that these services relate to
Stride Equity is authorised to provide a crowdfunding service (as a CSF Intermediary) to retail and wholesale clients, for fully-paid ordinary shares of eligible CSF companies (CSF Issuer) published on our offer platform (the Platform), accessible atwww.strideequity.com.au (the Website).
Stride Equity is authorised under its AFS licence to provide general financial product advice to retail and wholesale clients in relation to securities.
Stride Equity does not provide personal advice. You should consider your own specific objectives, financial situation or needs and seek independent accounting, financial, taxation, and legal advice, before making any investment decision.
Gatekeeper obligations
A CSF Intermediary has certain specific obligations that apply in recognition of its important role as a ‘gatekeeper’ for the Platform, which include:
- Performing certain checks before publishing a CSF offer document on the Platform; and
- Not publishing, or not continuing to publish, a CSF offer document on the Platform in certain circumstances.
Use of the Platform accessible via the Website is subject to the Hosting Agreement for CSF Issuers and the Investor Terms and Conditions.
Offers of securities in the CSF Issuer (CSF Offers) and expressions of interest campaigns (EOI campaigns) are facilitated by Stride Equity via the Platform and involves the provision of a crowdfunding service.
Issuer Fees (Retail and Wholesale offers)
- Administration and Campaign fees:
A fee of up to $4,000 (plus GST) charged to a CSF Issuer for services which includes due diligence, and work completed to launch the Expression of Interest campaign and CSF Offer. An additional CSF Offer Administration Fee may be payable by the issuer to Stride Equity if: - an issuer requires a replacement or supplementary CSF Offer Document to be published on the Platform; or
- an issuer’s circumstances are complicated or unusual, for example, where we are required to perform extensive investigations to determine an Issuer’s eligibility (or its directors or senior managers eligibility) to make a CSF Offer.
- Offer Success Fee:
Up to 7% (plus GST) of all funds raised by an Issuer following the successful completion of a CSF Offer. We may also receive a success fee from CSF Issuers for funds raised from Investors introduced through the Stride Equity platform who provide funds outside the platform, and not under a CSF Offer on the Stride Equity platform, within 12 months of a CSF Offer.
Retail Offers
Investors will not pay any fees to Stride Equity for applying for shares in a Retail Offer via Stride Equity, unless notified under the Investors Terms and Conditions or the terms of the Offer. Stride Equity may introduce fees by giving advance notice to subscribers.
Additional fees
An additional CSF Offer Administration Fee may be payable by the issuer to Stride Equity if:
- an issuer requires a replacement or supplementary CSF offer document to be published on the Platform; or
- an issuer’s circumstances are complicated or unusual, for example, where we are required to perform extensive investigations to determine its eligibility (or its directors or senior managers eligibility) to make a CSF Offer.
Interest on funds held in trust will be retained by Stride Equity and not paid to CSF Issuers on completion, or to Investors if the Offer is unsuccessful.
Referral programs
From time to time Stride Equity may pay referral fees to third parties that introduce CSF Issuers or investors to the Platform. Referral fees may be calculated as either a percentage of the success fee to be received by Stride Equity on the amount raised under the relevant CSF Offer, the amount invested in a CSF Offer by an investor, or a flat fee.
Information for Investors and CSF Issuers
Creating an account
You must create an account prior to accessing any of the services available on the Website. CSF Issuers and Investors can create an account by selecting the “Login” and "Register" button on the Website.
To become a CSF Issuer the company applying will be asked to provide a pitch deck and additional documents and we will assess the application and notify the CSF Issuer regarding the outcome.
Prior to making a CSF Offer on the Platform, the CSF Issuer must enter a Hosting Agreement, which sets out the arrangement with Stride Equity for the hosting of an EOI campaign, publication of a CSF Offer and the conduct of the CSF Offer on the Platform.
By creating an account and using the Website, you agree to the Website Terms of Service (available at www.StrideEquity.com.au) as amended from time to time.
Expressing interest in EOI Campaigns
EOI Campaigns are a way for CSF Issuers to assess demand for a potential CSF Offer. All live EOI campaigns can be viewed on the Platform.
Once you have created an account and logged-in, you can express your interest in an EOI campaign. By expressing your interest, you are making a non-binding indication of your interest to participate in the company's intended CSF Offer (if and when it proceeds). Submitting an expression of interest is not an investment, and does not create any obligations or rights.
Applying for shares under a CSF Offer
A CSF Offer is an offer for fully-paid ordinary shares in the CSF Issuer. A CSF Offer is made under a CSF Offer Document, which contains important information about the Issuer and the CSF Offer.
If you are considering investing via a CSF Offer, you should consider the CSF Offer Document carefully before investing. A CSF Offer Document includes the following important information:
- Risk warnings - A general risk warning about crowd-sourced funding (prescribed by law);
- Information about the company;
- Information about the offer;
- Information about investor rights.
Applications for shares under a CSF offer hosted by Stride Equity can only be made via the application facility operated by Stride Equity on the Website. Once you have created an account and logged-in, you can apply for shares under a live CSF offer.
Paying for shares under a CSF Offer
In order to apply for shares under a CSF Offer, you must agree to the Investor Terms and Conditions that can be found on our website.
All application money in relation to a CSF offer will be held on trust by Stride Equity in a designated client money account in accordance with Stride Equity obligations under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Activities and events while a CSF Offer is open
Stride Equity will provide and administer a communications facility for the CSF Offer, where Platform users can ask questions of the Issuer.
Stride Equity will suspend a CSF Offer:
- When it considers that the CSF Issuer has breached, or will be likely to breach, the terms of the Hosting Agreement;
- After becoming aware that the CSF offer document is defective, unless Stride Equity elects to close the CSF offer on becoming aware that the CSF offer document is defective;
- On a CSF Issuer’s request; and
- Where it considers that it must do so under relevant laws, or where a Regulator issues the relevant order to do so.
Stride Equity will close a CSF Offer:
- When the maximum period for the CSF offer ceases;
- When the maximum offer amount has been reached, or the CSF offer is fully subscribed, and all applicant withdrawal rights have expired;
- When it considers that the CSF Issuer has breached, or will be likely to breach, the terms of the Hosting Agreement;
- After becoming aware that the CSF offer document is defective;
- In accordance with the closing date in the CSF offer document;
- On an Issuer’s request; and
- Where it considers that it must do so under relevant laws, or where a Regulator order to do so.
Return of funds
If a CSF Offer is unsuccessful (i.e. the minimum offer target has not been reached and the period for the CSF Offer has expired), Stride Equity will refund application money as soon as practicable after the CSF Offer is closed. No interest will be paid on the application money.
Issue of shares
Stride Equity will notify the CSF Issuer once an offer is complete. Stride Equity will provide the CSF Issuer with:
- details of all application money held in respect of a CSF Offer;
- details of all successful applicants under the CSF Offer
- instructions to issue shares.
The CSF Issuer will be asked to confirm and provide evidence that it has complied with the terms of the CSF Offer, including, shares issued, and request for ASIC records to be updated.
Stride Equity will then pay the Issuer the application money received in response to the CSF Offer, less any fees payable to Stride Equity as soon as practicable. No interest will be paid to a CSF Issuer for the time the application money was held by Stride Equity.
Cooling off rights
If you are an Investor, who is not classified as a sophisticated investor under S708 of the Corporations Act 2001, you may cancel an application in an Offer within 5 Business Days after applying (i.e. application money received) and any payments made will be refunded.
What happens if you want to make a complaint?
If you have a complaint about any of our services, Stride Equity has established complaint resolution procedures set out below:
To raise concerns or provide feedback contact us directly. We will do our best to resolve any issues you may have quickly.
- Email: info@strideequity.com.au
- Phone: 0414880987
If you are unhappy with the response or you would like to escalate the matter, you can contact our Complaints Officer. Our Complaints Officer will attempt to resolve your concern quickly and amicably. We will update you regularly until the matter is resolved.
- Email: complaints@strideequity.com.au
- Phone: 0405183147
If you are not satisfied with the steps taken by Stride Equity to resolve the complaint, you can contact the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).
- Email: info@afc.org.au
- Mail: GPO Box 3 Melbourne Vic 3001
- Web: www.afca.org.au
- Phone: 1800 931 678
Compensation Arrangements
Stride Equity has professional indemnity insurance in place which satisfies the requirements for compensation arrangements pursuant to s912B of the Corporations Act and ASIC policy guidance. This policy is subject to terms and exclusions and covers claims made against Stride Equity in relation to financial services provided by our current and former employees. Neither Stride Equity, nor any of its directors, authorised representatives, employees, or agents, makes any representation or warranty as to the reliability, accuracy, or completeness of any advice.
Further questions
If you have any further questions about the financial services which we provide, please contact us on
info@strideequity.com.au